Harvard University will soon be offering a Tagalog language course.
According to The Harvard Crimson, the Ivy League school will offer the court next academic year. Tagalog is currently the fourth most spoken language in the United States.
This is the first time that the school will offer a Filipino language class. Harvard is currently seeking applicants who are interested in teaching Tagalog in the university.
Executive Director of Harvard University Asia Center, Elizabeth Liao said that the center secured financial support through fundraising efforts that will be the instructor’s payment. The instructor will have a three-year term that is renewable up to five additional years.
James Robson, professor of East Asian Languages and Civilization and director of Asia Center, added that Harvard secured a $1 million USD budget to fund the Tagalog instructor position.
The Asia Center spent two years making an effort in increasing Southeast Asian education at Harvard. Thai and Indonesian languages are currently being taught at Harvard.
Jorge Espada, associate director of Southeast Asia Programs, noticed the lack of education on Southeast Asian studies and language courses.
Espada wanted to see if Tagalog can be taught in a level of professionalism and to generate enthusiasm for it at Harvard.
Filipino writer, Eros Atalia, said Harvard’s move is “a good opportunity for the Tagalog language to be introduced internationally.”
With Harvard currently hiring an instructor to teach Tagalog, a debate about Tagalog speakers who are fluent with the language might resurface.
“Iba kasi yung pagkakaalam natin sa Tagalog na archaic or old school ng paggamit ng language. Well, according sa study, malaking porsyento ng Pilipino ang nakapagsasalita ng Tagalog dahil na rin sa mass media.” Atalia said.
SUGGESTED STORIES:
Pacquiao held to draw by Barrios in world title return
Las Vegas, United States:Manny Pacquiao's bid to make a fairytale.
BREAKING! Pacquiao-Barrios ends in majority draw
Las Vegas, United States: Mario Barrios held off a battling.
Kathryn Bernardo, Alden Richards named Box Office Heroes at 8th EDDYs
KATHRYN Bernardo and Alden Richards continue to be recognized for.
He adds that being a hundred percent fluent in Tagalog is not the function of the language but to portray what is used in real life.
Tagalog being taught in class is different from how it is spoken in real life. How Filipinos portray “fluent” Tagalog might be a little old school since speaking in straight Tagalog isn’t realistic and practical.
Atalia said there is no inferior or superior language. We should be open to learning new languages.
